I entered into a tennis tournament on Labor Day weekend a couple of months back, and I nearly killed myself playing in it. I'm not an outstanding player, but I play often enough to be considered competent. Over the last 5 years, I've been playing mostly doubles with a smattering of singles tennis thrown in. For those of you unfamiliar with tennis, the only important thing to note is that singles requires a lot more fitness than doubles does.
I signed up for the tournament a level lower than I normally play since I was going to try my hand at singles tennis. I mean, the ladies on TV make it look so easy! I pay my $35 USTA tournament fee, and eagerly await the day to play. Since I'm playing a level lower than my skill, I figured I'd win a match or two, but poop out from fatigue after that.
About 2 weeks after signing up for the tournament, I received an e-mail from the tournament director informing me that since there were not enough ladies signed up for the level I was at, they were going to bump me UP a level! So, now I will be playing at my skill level, but it will be singles rather than doubles. After the shock wore off, I decided that I would go out in a blaze of exhaustion that first match. Oh well.
To make a long story shorter, I ended up winning the tournament. Don't ask me how. I didn't think I was physically capable of it, but I surprised myself. The tournament director handed me an envelope and said congratulations. Now, in the past when I've placed in a tennis tournament, I received a generic trophy. I'm not a professional tennis player, so I wouldn't receive cash. LittleMan thinks I'm an athetic GOD since I have all of these trophies from tennis on our mantle. Okay, there are only 4 trophies, but still!
When I arrived home after winning the tournament, LittleMan ran up and asked me how I did.
Me - "I won!"
LittleMan - "Oh, wow! Where is your trophy?"
Me - "Uh, they gave me a check for $75."
LittleMan - [Staring at the check.]
Me - [Watching him stare at the check.]
LittleMan - "You didn't get a trophy? I thought you won."
Me - [Watching LittleMan walk away.]
How sad is it that I wished I had received a trophy too?
I ordered a canvas tennis bag online. It has a beautiful tennis racket embroidered on the front with the following words - "Singles Tennis Winner - Tiffany". How awesome am I?
4 comments:
Was it at least one of those huge cardboard checks? That would have been all kinds of awesome.
As Elmer Fudd would say, "I think you ah vehhhhh-wee awesome!"
Maybe you could use the $75 to buy a trophy...that way it will make him happy!
This reminds me sooo uncannily of being a performing songwriter. It was so much easier to be one of a band but now that I could be on "my own" am scared.
But if you can kick ass singly - why can't I?
I feel this post was written entirely for my inspirational benefit and I thank you.
I am going to start getting myself ready to kick some ass as Esther Von Vandervester, woman who needs a man with a chainsaw. And I don't even need a trophy or 75 bucks, (altho I wouldn't turn those down if they were offered for my brilliance.)
Thank you.
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